Small birds like that in (Figure 1) can migrate over long distances without feed

Question

Small birds like that in (Figure 1) can migrate over long distances without feeding, storing energy mostly as fat rather than carbohydrate. Fat is a good form of energy storage because it provides the most energy per unit mass: 1.00 grams of fat provides about 9.40 (food) Calories, compared to 4.20 (food) Calories per 1.00 grams of carbohydrate. Remember that Calories associated with food, which are always capitalized, are not exactly the same as calories used in physics or chemistry, even though they have the same name. More specifically, one food Calorie is equal to 1000 calories of mechanical work or 4186 joules. Therefore, in this problem use the conversion factor 1Cal=4186J.

Field observations suggest that a migrating ruby-throated hummingbird can fly across the Gulf of Mexico on a nonstop flight traveling a distance of about 900 km . Assuming that the bird has an average speed of 35.0 km/hr and an average power consumption of 1.90 W , how many grams of fat mfat does a ruby-throated hummingbird need to accomplish the nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico?

Explanation / Answer

The time required for thje journey = Distance / speed = 900/35 = 25.7hours

So total no. of seconds = 25.7*3600 = 9.26*104sec

So total energy = power(in watt) * time ( in sec) =1.90*9.26*104 = 1.76*105 J

As 1 Cal = 4186 J

so calories required = 1.76*105 / 4186 = 42Cal

As 9.4 Cal is in 1 gm of fat ,

So fat required = 42 /9.4 = 4.5 gm

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse S
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.